7 Best Travel Pillows for Your Next Airplane Trip

So, it doesn’t fall into the snug $20-30 price bracket that most travel neck pillows do. But, that’s because of the delicious support it provides – plus a few other extras to boot.

And we do want to talk about the support first because it’s pretty darn awesome. For a start, the back of the pillow isn’t the thickest part – which tends to make neck pillows uncomfortable on planes. The back is a little flatter. The memory foam is taller around the neck than most pillows and that makes it an absolute delight. Combined with the toggles that snap together, you will definitely get some serious support here.

A few other bonuses include the built-in side pocket to hold your phone or iPod, and the included memory foam earplugs. Plus the compact travel bag that allows you to squash your travel neck pillow into the smallest possible size.

On the downside, this pillow is heavy. It weighs over 11 ounces; if travelling light is a priority, you probably don’t want this pillow. Plus, most people aren’t willing to pay $40 unless they travel frequently or flip across oceans regularly. (And many of those buyers tend to fly business class where neck pillow support is less of an issue. But, you do get a 2-year satisfaction warranty and a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty.

What’s it made of? The polyurethane memory foam core is covered by soft, cotton (80%) and polyester (20%) blended velour.

What support does it offer? You get 360º support for your head and chin. Plus, the raised side and flat back is perfect for your neck.

How do you wash it? The outer cover is machine washable. If you really need to, you can wipe down the foam insert.

How big is it? At full size this pillow measures 10 x 9.5 x 5″. Compressed into its bag, you get a height of 5.5” and a diameter of 4.5” – though you will need to roll it properly. We think that’s a little amazing given the original dimensions.

How much does it weigh? 11.2 oz. That’s on the heavy side.

What colors are available? Black, blue tropic hibiscus, Cabeau blue, camouflage, crimson, grey, orange, pink and red

Will it break the bank? At $40, it’s not the cheapest travel pillow. But, there are plenty of features in addition to the support. Rather than being expensive, we do think this item offers value for money.

As you may have noticed, there are plenty of average travel neck pillows available these days. And, many have incorporated memory foam into the mix. But there is something that sets this one apart from the crowd – the ventilation holes in the foam. It may seem like a small thing until you manage to get sweaty on a long flight. It really does help to have these holes and we have to wonder why more people don’t try them.

That’s not the only benefit to this travel pillow. We also like the toggles that allow you to adjust the support. But, we need to add some caveats to that statement. The toggles don’t close the pillow completely – and if you were to use this pillow with the toggles in the front, that eliminates chin control. You can flip it around, of course, and we suggest that. If you don’t, your neck can become stiff from the bulge of the memory foam in the back.

But, for $25, you get a pillow that can be compressed into the accompanying bag – and they’ve tossed in earplugs and an eye mask so that you really can get a good night’s sleep. Well, at least, so you can get some sleep.

What’s it made of? The memory foam insert is first covered by a mesh layer and then the outer plush velour cover.

What support does it offer? Neck support only.

How do you wash it? The outer cover is machine washable and there’s a zip for removing the memory foam insert which can make cleaning easier.

How big is it? Uncompressed, the pillow measures 11.1 x 10.8 x 3.9”. The travel bag is there to compress the pillow to half the size.

How much does it weigh? 12 oz. That’s definitely on the heavy side for a travel pillow.

What colors are available? Black, blue, purple, brown

Will it break the bank? This pillow sells for about $25 which is perfectly average.

If you’re on a strict budget – or you really just need something for the one short flight you take annually, this is a good option. But, we can’t say it’s perfect for long hauls or regular travelers.

For a start, the memory foam inside doesn’t provide complete support – or at least not enough for most people. And yet, you can’t compact it like some competitors. So it’s not small or supportive. But there are a few features which set this apart from the super-cheap inflatable options.

There is an insert in the back which can be removed so your head isn’t pushed forward. And, there’s an elastic strap that makes it easy to attach it to your carry on luggage. It’s also softer than inflatable options. But, other than that, you shouldn’t expect much – except for a lower price.

What’s it made of? The velour cover is a combination of cotton (75%) and polyester (25%); it covers high-quality memory foam.

What support does it offer? Specifically supports your neck.

How do you wash it? Feel free to remove the insert (through the zippered opening) and machine wash the cover.

How big is it? 11 x 12 x 3.8”

How much does it weigh? 5.9 oz

What colors are available? Dark blue and grey

Will it break the bank? Nope. This is the best budget offering out there. You should expect to pay about $13-15. That’s about half the average price as most travel pillows.

Okay, this feature from Shark Tank isn’t going to provide you with the support that other travel pillows will. But, it does offer some privacy – well, at least the ability to block out light with the drawstring hoodie. And, for an inflatable travel neck pillow, it’s actually far more comfortable than most. That’s because of the sweatshirt fabric used as a cover.

It’s also sold at a reasonable price and comes with a 90-day manufacturer’s warranty. But there are some cons to this travel pillow – namely your inability to toss it in the washing machine. Then again, it’s not ideal for frequent flyers and cross-continental travelers – so perhaps that features isn’t as important with this pillow.

While the support is lacking, it’s actually a reasonably priced inflatable travel neck pillow – especially for those that prefer a dark space without those plastic eye covers.

What’s it made of? The cover is made from a blend of cotton (80%) and polyester (20%).

What support does it offer? You’ll get some neck support, though perhaps not as much as you would like.

How do you wash it? Sadly, you’ll need to hand wash and line dry this travel pillow.

How big is it? 12.6 x 1 x 0.1”

How much does it weigh? 5.6 oz

What colors are available? Black, blue, pink, red, and grey

Will it break the bank? At $20, it’s less than average – though you should expect that given the light support this pillow provides.